• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Silkworm pupae, a by-product of the silk industry are known to be valuable resource of nutrients for humans as well as animals besides encompassing diverse bioactive constituents. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on their role in amelioration of oxidative stress and anti-skin aging properties. In the present study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of aqueous as well as ethanolic (30% and 70%) extracts from distinct stages of male and female silkworm pupae belonging to two silkworm varieties on skin aging-related enzymes. The activities of collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase were effectively inhibited by 70% ethanolic silkworm pupal extracts (SPE), followed by 30% with aqueous extracts exhibiting meager inhibitory potential. SPE were also investigated for their antioxidant activity in oxidative-stressed murine fibroblasts (L929). The intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) in fibroblasts was better attenuated by pre treatment with ethanolic (30%) and aqueous extracts, respectively. The safety of the extracts was determined by studying their effect on fibroblast cell viability and it was found that none of the extracts were cytotoxic. Our findings indicate the potential utility of SPE as anti-aging components in cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2023

Here, upon acute (96 h) and chronic (14 days) exposure, ingestion of polystyrene NPs (100 nm) and physiological, biochemical, and cholinergic modulations were analyzed in the water flea Moina macrocopa exposed to different concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 ㎍ l^-1). Exposed NPs were observed in the internal organs (e.g., digestive tract and foregut) of the water flea. Chronic exposure to the relatively high concentrations resulted in significant decreases in survival, body length, and the total number of molts, whereas reproduction parameter was not affected. Significant increase in oxidative stress biomarker (malondialdehyde) and decrease in the intracellular content of endogenous antioxidant (glutathione) and enzymatic activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase) were detected in response to relatively high concentrations of NPs. Transcriptional expression of the hsp70 gene was increased in response to relatively high concentrations of NPs, whereas acetylcholinesterase activity was lowered by the same concentrations of NPs. Taken together, NPs exposure would be a significant modulator on physiological and biochemical metabolism of water flea.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.114-114
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• 2022

Excessive endogenous endotoxin, especially lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reflux from gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the liver tissue is one of the most serious reasons of severe and acute liver injury which is mainly mediated by Kupffer cell activations. However, there is no clear molecular clues to explain the exact pathophysiological mechanism and effective drugs available till nowadays. We aimed to comprehend the pathophysiological features of LPS-induced liver injury and evaluate the efficacies of potential therapeutic drug, Ga-mi-Yuk-Mi-Jihwang-Tang (GYM), which is composed of herbal plants. GYM remarkably caused to normalize hepatic inflammation and oxidations against LPS-induced liver injury by evidence of serum liver enzymes, histopathological analysis, both hepatic protein and gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide levels, and hepatic tissue levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxyneoneal, respectively. To assess molecular events in the hepatic tissue, we further found hepatic Sirtuin6 (Sirt6) levels were considerably depleted by LPS injection with aberrant alterations of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, whereas administration with GYM notably exerted to normalize these abnormalities. Our results exhibited that GYM would be one of target drug to diminish hepatic inflammation as well as oxidative stress by regulation of hepatic Sirt6 levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 2003

The present investigation was undertaken to study status of erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes in normal cycling and $\alpha$- tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. The pre-supplementation erythrocytic activities of superoxide dismutase (U/mg Hb), glutathione peroxidase (U/mg Hb) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (U/g Hb) upregulated significantly (p<0.05) in anestrus heifers ($10.08{\pm}0.09$, $14.09{\pm}0.54$, $9.25{\pm}0.29$) when compared to normal cycling ones ($6.93{\pm}0.04$, $11.61{\pm}0.19$, $5.58{\pm}0.26$). The oral supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol (a) 3,000 mg per week per animal in anestrus heifers declined erythrocytic superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities significantly (p<0.01) but led to non-significant increase in erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase activity. Results indicated that supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol to anestrus buffalo heifers mitigated the effects of oxidative stress to improve their antioxidant status.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2014

Metabolic effects of ten daily doses of standardized extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves (AP) rich in andrographolide were evaluated in a rat model of type-2 diabetes and in diet induced obese rats. AP was administered per-orally as suspension in 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 10 consecutive days. Blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile of rats were measured by using enzyme kits. In addition, effects of such treatments on anti-oxidant enzymes activity and histopathological changes in various organs of diabetic rats were assessed. AP treatments reversed body weight losses and increased plasma insulin level in diabetic rats. The anti-oxidant enzymes activity became normal and histopathological changes observed in pancreas, liver, kidney and spleen of diabetic animals were less severe in extract treated groups. On the other hand, hyperinsulinemia and increased body weight gains observed in high fat or fructose fed rats were less severe in the extract treated groups. These observations revealed therapeutic potentials of the extract for treatments of diabesity associated metabolic disorders, and suggest that the effects of the extract on insulin homeostasis depend on the metabolic status of animals. Activation of cytoprotective mechanisms could be involved in its mode of action.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

Xenobiotics and their reactive intermediates bind to cellular macromolecules and/or generate oxidative stress. which provoke deleterious effects on the cell function. Induction of xenobiotic-biotrans-forming enzymes and antioxidant molecules is an important defense mechanism against such insults. A group of genes involved in the defense mechanism. e.g. genes encoding glutathione S-transferases. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) and ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GGCS). have a common regulatory sequence, Antioxidant or Electrophile Responsive Element (ARE/EpRE). Recently. Nrf2. discovered as a homologue of erythroid transcription factor p45 NF-E2, was shown to bind ARE/EpRE and induce the expression of these defense genes. Mice that lack Nrf2 show low basal levels of expression and/or impaired induction of these genes. which makes the animals highly sensitive to xenobiotic toxicity. Indeed. we show here that nrf2-deficient mice had a higher mortality than did the wild-type mice when exposed to acetaminophen (APAP). Detailed analyses of APAP hepatotoxicity in the nrf2 knockout mice indicate that a large amount of reactive APAP metabolites was generated in the livers due to the impaired basal expression of two detoxifying enzyme genes, UDP-GT (Ugt1a6) and GGCS. while the cytochrome P450 content was unchanged. Thus. the studies using the nrf2 knockout mice clearly demonstrate significance of the expression of Nrf2-regulated enzymes in protection against xenobiotic toxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.146-154
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• 2020

With the advantages of biocatalytic method, enzymes have been excavated for the synthesis of chiral amino acids by the reductive amination of ketones, offering a promising way of producing pharmaceutical intermediates. In this work, a robust phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PheDH) with wide substrate spectrum and high catalytic efficiency was constructed through rational design and active-site-targeted, site-specific mutagenesis by using the parent enzyme from Bacillus halodurans. Active sites with bonding substrate and amino acid residues surrounding the substrate binding pocket, 49L-50G-51G, 74M,77K, 122G-123T-124D-125M, 275N, 305L and 308V of the PheDH, were identified. Noticeably, the new mutant PheDH (E113D-N276L) showed approximately 6.06-fold increment of k_cat/Km in the oxidative deamination and more than 1.58-fold in the reductive amination compared to that of the wide type. Meanwhile, the PheDHs exhibit high capacity of accepting benzylic and aliphatic ketone substrates. The broad specificity, high catalytic efficiency and selectivity, along with excellent thermal stability, render these broad-spectrum enzymes ideal targets for further development with potential diagnostic reagent and pharmaceutical compounds applications.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2012

This study compared the composition and texture of muscle and levels of detoxification and antioxidant enzymes in the livers of stocked and cultivated rockfish Sebastes schlegeli released after the primary culture stage in Tongyoung, South Korea. The crude lipid content of muscle was significantly higher ($P$<0.05) in cultivated rockfish than stocked rockfish, while the texture did not differ significantly ($P$>0.05). The condition factor (CF) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) did not differ significantly and the growth of stocked and cultivated rockfish was similar. The levels of the detoxification enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP) and Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) were significantly lower in the livers of stocked rockfish, perhaps because of their reduced exposure to xenobiotic compounds. In addition, stocked rockfish had a significantly ($P$<0.05) lower CAT and higher GR than cultivated rockfish, but similar levels of tGPx, SOD, GSH, and GSSG. The present study shows that the growth rates of stocked and cultivated rockfish are similar and that stocked rockfish are exposed to fewer xenobiotic compounds and less oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2011

The MuSI is known as a multiple stress resistant gene with several lines. A previous study using RT-PCR showed that the expression of MuSI gene in tobacco plant induced its tolerance to Cd stress. This study was conducted to examine the enhanced Cd tolerance of the MuSI transgenic tobacco plant through germination test and to understand the role of the involved antioxidant enzymes for the exhibited tolerance. Germination rate of MuSI transgenic tobacco was more than 10% higher than that of wild-type tobacco, and seedlings of MuSI transgenic tobacco grew up to 1.6 times larger and greener than seedlings of wild-type tobacco at 200 and 300 ${\mu}M$ Cd. From the third to the fifth day, CAT activities at 100 and 200 ${\mu}M$ Cd and APX activities at 100, 200 and 300 ${\mu}M$ Cd of MuSI transgenic tobacco were up to two times higher than those of wild-type tobacco. MuSI gene is shown to enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes resulting in higher tolerance to oxidative stress compared with the control plant.